The flight to Amman ... It is defintely a trip that was not foreseen on my scedule ... I don't know what to think about my trip back to Jordan. How is Najah? Is it possible to meet? If she is still weak, what can I do all these days in Amman? I like the city, but I stayed already a long time, so what more can I do there? At the other hand, it will be very nice to see Najah once again. And maybe I can also meet a few other people in the city ...
Once I arrived at the airport in Amman, I realised that I missed this country since I left it. I cannot explain why this country made such a strong impression on me. Maybe because I had a very nice time here together with the Kwink? Maybe because is was my first encounter with the Middle East kindness? Maybe because the good food I tasted here? Maybe because the nice landscapes we drove through? Maybe because I read the last 4 weeks about the thrilling history of Jordan? Maybe because Najah? ... Who knows .... I am sure that it is the combination of all these factors
As soon as I arrive I got a message from Najah that she feels sorry that she couldn't come to the airport, because she had a check-up at the hospital. We'll meet that evening in Rainbow street, the nice and hip part of the city centre of Amman.
On the bus to the city, I meet Phil. Phil is from London and is travelling with Matt also from London and Cindy from Brussels. They drive with an old Land Rover from London to Cape Town in South Africa, in order to raise funds for charities. Since Phil did not have a visum for Syria, he could not go through that country and had to go from Turkey to Amman by flight, to join the rest of the team in Jordan. He is a funny and interesting guy and since I was already in Amman, I guide him to his hotel where he meet Matt and Cindy. They are staying in the Farah hotel in the city centre. Matt invites me to stay with them in a 4 bed room. Since I was looking fot a cheap stay in Amman, I cannot neglect this offer. Soon it appears that all the members of the team are just great people, so the coming days I will stay with them in Amman.
The evening I walk to rainbow street and meet Najah. She looks like good recovered from her accident ... and more importantly ... it is for both of us nice to see each other again. All my fears that I had before coming to Amman disappear immedeatly.
The folowing days I will see Najah quite often ... we visit a nice ruin and caves close to Amman, we went to the dead sea, ... The first time I told her about my experience of floating on the Dead Sea, and I was lightly surprised when I heard that she never did it. So I'm glad that I could join her for her first Dead Sea experience.
In mean time, I train in Amman for my Brazil adventure. Running from time to time is quite nice, even though it is hot in Amman. But that is just the kind of training I need for Brazil I suppose. I spend some time with Matt, Phill and Cindy ... One evening we tried to go to the cinema here next door ... one of the very old cinemas in the city centre, with all posters of the eighties ... Unfortunatly we were too late for a movie ...
Time flies when you are having fun.
My flight back to Istanbul is on monday, but on sunday morning I couldn't imagine that I would go back already. I decide to stay one more week.
I enjoy to relax, and to walk through the city with Najah ... we talk a lot, and I learn a lot more about this nice part of the world ... I meet her children and mother and we have a lot of nice and funny moments in Amman.
Matt, Phil and Cindy are also still in the same hotel. Their car is in the garage for a few technical problem. But by fixing them, they discoverd some more problems, that should be best fixed before they would head to Egypt and Africa. So they are stuck in Amman for much more days then they have expected. With our four we went to the rainbow street to see the Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester ... quite funny to see how popular European football is in the Middle East and Barcelona was obviously the most popular club ... Barcelona won and from everywhere you could hear horns blowing and people shouting ... Craziness
Now ... there are two more days left here in Jordan ... and still it will be difficult to leave. But since I like to be in Belgium half july, I really need to go, or change my plans dramatically ... The time left here in Jordan, I hope to spend most of it with Najah, and maybe we will visit Wadi Rum ...
Back in Istanbul, my bike is waiting for an heavy 5 more days on the bike ... it will be though, but at least I had a magnificent time here in Jordan.
Actually the last whole day we went to mount Nebo, the mountain of Mozes, long ago ... we finish the day and my stay in Jordan in a nice restaurant in Madaba ... with a great meal. And we end with a Sisha and tea ..., maybe not the best combination with a running training, but it gives a very good and light feeling in my head afterwards ... ;-)
I spend one evening with my roommates in Rainbow street ... the best Ice Cream of Amman, enjoying the freshness of the evening with a bright view over Amman by night ... Great for making plans ... Matt, in 2013 we will row the Ocean ... don't forget.
Rafke
Once I arrived at the airport in Amman, I realised that I missed this country since I left it. I cannot explain why this country made such a strong impression on me. Maybe because I had a very nice time here together with the Kwink? Maybe because is was my first encounter with the Middle East kindness? Maybe because the good food I tasted here? Maybe because the nice landscapes we drove through? Maybe because I read the last 4 weeks about the thrilling history of Jordan? Maybe because Najah? ... Who knows .... I am sure that it is the combination of all these factors
As soon as I arrive I got a message from Najah that she feels sorry that she couldn't come to the airport, because she had a check-up at the hospital. We'll meet that evening in Rainbow street, the nice and hip part of the city centre of Amman.
On the bus to the city, I meet Phil. Phil is from London and is travelling with Matt also from London and Cindy from Brussels. They drive with an old Land Rover from London to Cape Town in South Africa, in order to raise funds for charities. Since Phil did not have a visum for Syria, he could not go through that country and had to go from Turkey to Amman by flight, to join the rest of the team in Jordan. He is a funny and interesting guy and since I was already in Amman, I guide him to his hotel where he meet Matt and Cindy. They are staying in the Farah hotel in the city centre. Matt invites me to stay with them in a 4 bed room. Since I was looking fot a cheap stay in Amman, I cannot neglect this offer. Soon it appears that all the members of the team are just great people, so the coming days I will stay with them in Amman.
The evening I walk to rainbow street and meet Najah. She looks like good recovered from her accident ... and more importantly ... it is for both of us nice to see each other again. All my fears that I had before coming to Amman disappear immedeatly.
The folowing days I will see Najah quite often ... we visit a nice ruin and caves close to Amman, we went to the dead sea, ... The first time I told her about my experience of floating on the Dead Sea, and I was lightly surprised when I heard that she never did it. So I'm glad that I could join her for her first Dead Sea experience.
In mean time, I train in Amman for my Brazil adventure. Running from time to time is quite nice, even though it is hot in Amman. But that is just the kind of training I need for Brazil I suppose. I spend some time with Matt, Phill and Cindy ... One evening we tried to go to the cinema here next door ... one of the very old cinemas in the city centre, with all posters of the eighties ... Unfortunatly we were too late for a movie ...
Time flies when you are having fun.
My flight back to Istanbul is on monday, but on sunday morning I couldn't imagine that I would go back already. I decide to stay one more week.
I enjoy to relax, and to walk through the city with Najah ... we talk a lot, and I learn a lot more about this nice part of the world ... I meet her children and mother and we have a lot of nice and funny moments in Amman.
Matt, Phil and Cindy are also still in the same hotel. Their car is in the garage for a few technical problem. But by fixing them, they discoverd some more problems, that should be best fixed before they would head to Egypt and Africa. So they are stuck in Amman for much more days then they have expected. With our four we went to the rainbow street to see the Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester ... quite funny to see how popular European football is in the Middle East and Barcelona was obviously the most popular club ... Barcelona won and from everywhere you could hear horns blowing and people shouting ... Craziness
Now ... there are two more days left here in Jordan ... and still it will be difficult to leave. But since I like to be in Belgium half july, I really need to go, or change my plans dramatically ... The time left here in Jordan, I hope to spend most of it with Najah, and maybe we will visit Wadi Rum ...
Back in Istanbul, my bike is waiting for an heavy 5 more days on the bike ... it will be though, but at least I had a magnificent time here in Jordan.
Actually the last whole day we went to mount Nebo, the mountain of Mozes, long ago ... we finish the day and my stay in Jordan in a nice restaurant in Madaba ... with a great meal. And we end with a Sisha and tea ..., maybe not the best combination with a running training, but it gives a very good and light feeling in my head afterwards ... ;-)
I spend one evening with my roommates in Rainbow street ... the best Ice Cream of Amman, enjoying the freshness of the evening with a bright view over Amman by night ... Great for making plans ... Matt, in 2013 we will row the Ocean ... don't forget.
Rafke
Hallo dag Raf ,weer even geleden hé ,maar we volgen je avonturen nog op de voet. Oef je heb weer heel wat meegemaakt,landen in oorlog ,maar ook weer super fijne mensen ontmoet .Wat mij de daver bezorgde zijn de weersomstandigheden die echt wel beangstigend waren .Ik durf (bijna)niet meer zeggen dat ik lopen ga voor de onweders hier.Heel veel groeten....
BeantwoordenVerwijderenLeef met je hoofd in de wolken , maar met je voeten op de grond ....Johan en Magda....xxx
Will you ladies need a small (but extremely comfortable) yacht to accompany you across the ocean (whichever one that may be :) )
BeantwoordenVerwijderenSee you next week Ralph! I wonder which country you'll visit next. So many you haven't seen yet :)))